1617.] THE LAST VISIT OF CHARLES I. 



57 



" Hereupon we spake with colonel Whalley, who told us 

 that he could not answer further until he knew the king's 

 pleasure and the General's, having received no new orders. 



" And we pressing for further satisfaction, he immediately 

 went in to speak with the king about it, and his majesty was 

 pleased to send for us also ; where it being recited what had 

 already passed betwixt us and the colonel, his majesty asked 

 him, whether, if he declared his willingness to go to Richmond, 

 he should not be by him hindered therein. 



" Colonel Whalley replied, that when he knew his 

 majesty's pleasure, he should forthwith acquaint the General ; 

 and believed that he might march thither, or to any other place 

 he pleased. 



"Then the king told us that there was not as yet an 

 address made to him on this behalf by the houses, and it con- 

 cerned his honour not to be in such manner posted from place 

 to place. 



" We replied, that indeed we had no particular address at 

 this time to his majesty from the parliament, but the letter, 

 which we received with the late votes from the houses, did 

 require us to take care to see them fully observed, as far in us 

 lies ; and since the answer we expected did depend on his 

 majesty's consent, by virtue and in pursuance of the general 

 power given us by both houses, we humbly took the liberty 

 to make our address to him therein, his majesty having often 

 declared his desire of being at some of his houses nearer the 

 parliament. 



" The king replied, that indeed he had often desired it of 

 the houses, and would always keep his word ; that he was 

 very sensible of the present distractions, and, in hopes to 

 further the composing of them, and to settle a happier peace 

 in the kingdom, he would accept the addresses we made to 

 him by authority from the houses, and dispense with that 

 point of civility which was due in a more express and regular 

 way, and which otherwise he would have stood upon ; and 

 then declared to colonel Whalley, that he would willingly go 

 along with us to Richmond. 



"The colonel desired his majesty to name the day, which 



